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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DAME, n.

1. A wife (esp. the wife of a farmer), the mistress of a household, a housewife (Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Fif.¹⁰ 1939). Arch. or dial. in Eng. (N.E.D.).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 120:
An' a' the beasts in course of time came hame, An' ilka cow was welcom'd by her dame.Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse 68:
The shepherd was steering his course awa hame To his wee toddling bairns and couthy ain dame.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 189:
Sae Symon, and Janet his dame, . . . Gaed bannin the French again hame.

†2. A mother. Also used fig. Obs. in Eng. since 16th cent. (N.E.D.).Sc. 1796 [A. Jaffray] Elcho Castle 9:
This is the picture of thy dame, Her very face divine!Edb. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 10:
That ignorance should be the dame O true devotion.

3. A young unmarried woman; a girl (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹ 1939). Cf. Deem. Dims. damie, dameack(ie), id. (Crm. 1928 Rymour Club Misc. III. 77, dameack(ie)); a sweetheart (Abd.²⁷ 1947).Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 133:
Dinna mak' faces to the dames in the house.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 30:
Meg's damies, whether rich or puir, Had a' got men.Ags. 1921 A. S. Neill Carroty Broon 241:
So Will Martin played a tune, and then one by one the men approached the group of damies.Ags.¹⁷ 1939:
She was aince a damie o' mine.Ayr. 1789 Burns Ep. to Dr Blacklock (Cent. ed.) v.:
Ye glaikit, gleesome, dainty damies, Wha by Castalia's wimplin streamies Lowp, sing, and lave your pretty limbies.